Letters to the Editor for Dec. 4

Trash a problem along Monterey Bay beaches

This is in regard to the problem at our beaches. The trash problem on the beaches of Monterey Bay is greatly affecting the ocean and its inhabitants. We have made the environment suffer by the thoughtlessness of our actions. I have been researching the issues garbage creates at our beaches. Though smoking is prohibited on beaches, the majority of the trash collected at the beaches are cigarette butts. Smoking on beaches should be strictly prohibited and penalties should be enforced. Cigarette butts and other trash left at the beach ultimately enter the ocean and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Measures are needed to make sure awareness of the degradation of the environment and our oceans is heightened. Please support any legislation that keeps trash off our shores.

Sandra Mendoza

Salinas

City leaders imprudent
about spending

Once again the mayor, City Council and head librarian have proven they have no idea how to be fiscally responsible.

They wasted Measure V funds on stuff besides what V funds were going to be used for. It looks like we have less cops per capita on the street now than before Measure V passed. Trees were planted in places where you can't recreate, aka medium strips.

Yes, the libraries are open and one was expanded but what about the rest of the funds? And days after Measure E passed, here we go again: spending $115,000 on the cowboy hats sculpture which was tucked away and no one cared about them for three decades.

The sculpture was to be the mayor's legacy. It is; the legacy of fiscal irresponsibility. For a mayor to claim he wants more jobs in Salinas, why ship these hats to have them refurbished? Local talent can do the job. Even the youth at Rancho Cielo could do it. As long as we have the same people on the City Council you may not want to vote in any more tax increases.

Russell Abbott

Salinas

His hero made
of strong moral fiber

My Hero lost both his parents as a child, and grew up on inner city streets during Prohibition and the Great Depression. He was a lifeguard, motorcycle messenger, prize fighter, truck driver, battle-scarred veteran of our Greatest Generation, and small-business owner; and he never expected or requested special consideration because of gender, race, or unfortunate circumstances.

My Hero didn't judge public officials on their rhetoric or party affiliation, but on their actions, demonstrated integrity, honor, leadership and patriotism. He knew that unless they shared his code of moral values, had a high sense of duty, were willing to set an example for others, and loved our country, they didn't deserve his support. My Hero would be ashamed of how much less respect there is today for these character traits, and disgusted at the behavior of some public officials. Have we become so self-centered, ignorant and apathetic that we foolishly believe such attributes are no longer important? My Hero wasn't political, but appreciated those qualities that made the United States great. He wasn't a celebrity or sports figure; but he was streetwise, an excellent judge of character - and my father.

Roger Huff

Salinas

Enforce plastic-bag
ban in Salinas

An estimated 123,000 tons of plastic bags are thrown away each year. The production and use of these bags are harming our ecosystem. Solely producing plastic bags is dangerous to humans and animals. The production of plastic bags leads to carcinogens being released into the atmosphere when ethylene and polyethylene are created. A plastic bag takes 10 to 20 years to photodegrade and become the smallest piece it can be.

On top of the harm plastic bag production causes, many bags are ending up in our oceans, harming our sea life. Sea animals are either getting trapped in the bag or getting sick from them. We need to follow Monterey's footsteps and enforce the bag ban in Salinas. On July 1, Monterey enforced the plastic bag ban they approved in December of last year. Let's come together and help Salinas ban plastic bags and make a difference.

Maria Zesati

Salinas

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Letters to the Editor for Dec. 4

Trash a problem along Monterey Bay beachesThis is in regard to the problem at our beaches. The trash problem on the beaches of Monterey Bay is greatly affecting the ocean and its inhabitants. We